Tom Brady back on the field with Patriots

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Tom Brady worked with Patriots teammates during an offseason practice on Tuesday.

By Zuri BerryGlobe Staff
May 21, 2013

FOXBOROUGH — Don’t expect to glean any knowledge from the Patriots’ second day of organized team activities, the first one that was open to the media for observation.

As expected, Tom Brady spent a majority of his first-team reps with Danny Amendola as his slot receiver Tuesday, but used a rotating cast as his other options, including free agent signees Donald Jones and Michael Jenkins, as well as rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce.

Brady worked one-on-one with Amendola and Jenkins while the rest of the team was focused on special teams drills.

Among notable players, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman were missing, of course, as Gronkowski just had more arm surgery and Edelman has reinjured his right foot. Veterans Brandon Spikes and Brandon Bolden also were missing from the voluntary practice.

Adrian Wilson and Lavelle Hawkins were not spotted on the field, although players were not wearing numbers on their practice shirts.

Bolden’s absence was precautionary, a source said. He suffered an ankle sprain while training and is expected to return to the field next week.

Others took turns riding the stationary bicycle. Tight end Jake Ballard, who missed all of 2012 after tearing his ACL in Super Bowl XLVI as a member of the Giants, needed to be stretched out after cramping up during drills.

The highlight of the practice was second-year linebacker Dont’a Hightower picking off backup quarterback Ryan Mallett, who appeared to be rusty.

Dobson, the Marshall wide receiver selected by the Patriots in the second round of the draft, snatched a Brady pass out of the air between two defenders, making his mark on the field. He followed up with another dazzling sliding catch later on.